Sokov fell silent. If Potapov didn't trust him, no matter how much he said, the other party wouldn't listen.
Potapov said this in one breath, and suddenly found that Sokov, who was standing next to him, did not answer his words, and the expression on his face became extremely solemn. An unknown premonition immediately surged in his heart. According to
He knew about Sokov, and the other person's sudden words must have been carefully thought out, and definitely not just random talk. With this in mind, he asked cautiously: "Major Sokov, are the Germans really
Is it possible to take action on Tolstoy’s remains?”
"Comrade Commander, I just said that it is possible." Sokov replied: "We cannot place our hopes on the Germans and expect them to have enough restraints and not to destroy the remains of Count Tolstoy.
Made an egregious move."
"In this case, it is completely necessary to move Tolstoy's remains."
Sokov thought that during the Great Patriotic War, Tolstoy's grave was dug by Guderian's men; Bagration's grave buried on the Borodino Heights was destroyed by fierce German artillery fire.
In the end, only a few broken bones were recovered and reburied.
"If we have the ability, I still suggest moving Tolstoy's grave to other areas and then moving it back after the war is over."
Potapov thought quickly in his mind. Although he was responsible for the defense of the Orliol-Tula area, moving Tolstoy's grave was not a trivial matter and was not within his jurisdiction at all.
Inside.
"Major Sokov, although I am the commander of the 1st Guards Corps, I am responsible for the defense of Orliol-Tula." Potapov said cautiously: "Like giving Thors
For things like relocating a tomb in Taiyuan, you need to contact the local leaders and let them make the decision. Well, tomorrow morning, go to Yasnaya Polyana Town, find the local person in charge, and send your
Tell them your ideas and see if they have any ideas."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Potapov agreed to his request, Sokov felt much more at ease: "I will go to the town of Yasnaya Polyana early tomorrow morning."
"That's right." Just as Sokov turned around to leave, Potapov added: "I have ordered someone to prepare a new military rank for you and will send it to you later."
Early the next morning, Sokov, two drivers, and four guards took two jeeps and headed for the town of Yasnaya Polyana.
After entering the town, there were basically no residents to be seen. It was unclear whether they had been evacuated or were busy in factories.
Sokov saw a circular guard box next to the intersection in front of him. There was a traffic policeman sitting inside, and he quickly ordered the driver: "Comrade driver, drive to the guard box."
The driver nodded and drove the car to the guard box and stopped.
Sokov opened the door and got out of the car, walked to the guard box door, and asked the traffic policeman sitting inside: "Hello, Comrade Traffic Police! I would like to ask, where can I find the person in charge in the town?"
The traffic policeman quickly stood up, saluted Sokov, and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade Major! If you are looking for the person in charge of the town, I can only regret to tell you that they have evacuated to Titu two days ago.
Come on, except for a few traffic policemen including me, there is no one else in the town."
Sokov raised his eyebrows and asked: "What about the Tolstoy Manor? Can anyone be found there?"
The traffic policeman took off his big-brimmed hat, scratched the back of his head, and said with some embarrassment: "I'm afraid it's embarrassing. A few days ago, a convoy entered the manor, and it was said that they were moving the cultural relics inside. Based on the time, they should have moved the things inside.
It’s almost done, there should be no one left in the manor.”
After getting the information he wanted to know, Sokov thanked the traffic police, got back into his car, told the driver to drive, and immediately rushed to the Tolstoy Manor.
The driver started the vehicle and said, "Comrade Major, the traffic police have already told us that no one is in the manor, what else are we going to do?"
Sokov replied coldly: "Whether there is anyone or not, let's go and take a look first."
Sokov was completely dissatisfied with this trip to the Tolstoy Manor. The residents of Yasnaya Polyana were all evacuated, and there were only a few traffic policemen left in the entire town. Tols
It is unclear whether there is anyone in the Tai Manor, but at least it means that the relocation of the grave cannot be carried out at all.
Two jeeps came to the gate of the manor and saw that the gate was closed.
The driver turned to Sokov and said: "Comrade Major, there seems to be no one in the manor."
"Try pressing the horn a few times."
The driver nodded and then sounded the horn.
After the horn rang a few times, a middle-aged man suddenly appeared behind the iron gate. He said through the iron gate: "I'm sorry, the Tolstoy Manor has been closed indefinitely and is not open to visitors for the time being."
Sokov opened the car door, walked straight to the iron gate, and said to the middle-aged man inside: "I am Major Sokov, the adjutant of the 1st Guards Corps. I have been ordered to come here. Please open the door. We are here."
Carrying out a mission.”
After the middle-aged man figured out Sokov's identity, he quickly replied: "Comrade Major, I am a staff member of the manor. Please wait a moment and I will open the door for you right away."
After the staff used the key to open the iron lock hanging on the door, they pushed the door open to allow Sokov and others' vehicles to enter.
Sokov considered that after entering the manor, he still needed the staff to cooperate with him. When the jeep passed by the staff, Sokov stopped the jeep and pushed open the rear door, shouting to the staff: "Get in the car!
"
After the staff got on the bus, the jeep drove forward along an avenue among the birch trees. On the left side of the avenue was a quiet and peaceful lake. The water was dark green, and groups of wild ducks could be seen swimming in the lake.
Sokov thought that when the Germans came here, these wild ducks would probably become their prey one after another.
In a small open space, several towering oak trees shade Tolstoy's former residence, a two-story building with white walls and blue roof.
The jeep parked in front of the building, and the staff got out of the car first and took the keys to open and close the door.
After Sokov waited for the staff to open the door, he led the driver and security guard into the foyer, following behind the staff.
The foyer is surrounded by bookcases, but it is empty inside. The books in the bookcases must have been moved.
The staff pointed to the hook on the wall and said to Sokov: "Comrade Major, Tolstoy's leather bag was originally hanging on the wall. He used this bag to take letters and newspapers. In the glass cabinet next to it, there was originally
There are several shotguns on display, which were used by Tolstoy for hunting, and they were moved along with the books a few days ago."
"Comrade, I heard that there is a room here where Tolstoy's manuscripts and letters are kept. Is it true?" the driver asked from the side.
"You are right. In the 'vault' on the first floor, Tolstoy's manuscripts and letters are indeed preserved. You know, he completed "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" here.
", "Resurrection" and other immortal works. But you will definitely not be able to see these precious cultural relics today, as they were also moved two days ago."
Everyone followed the staff to the second floor, where there was a spacious and bright hall.
The staff introduced to everyone: "This hall was once the activity center of Moscow's literary and artistic circles. Tolstoy received Turgenev, Chekhov, Gorky, etc. here. There were originally two paintings of Tolstoy on the wall of the hall.
The portraits of Tolstoy were painted by the famous painters Kramosk and Repin respectively. Next to them is the portrait of Mrs. Tolstoy, and on the opposite wall are the portraits of several ancestors. But these portraits were also painted by professionals a few days ago.
Moved away.
In the library on the second floor, there are 23,000 volumes of books in 14 languages, some of which are donated books signed by Turgenev, Romain Rolland, Gorky and others. Now these books have been transferred to the Lenin Library in Moscow
We will wait until the war is over before sending it back."
Sokov saw an antique-looking piano placed in a corner of the hall, and asked casually: "Was this piano used by Tolstoy?"
"Yes, Comrade Major, you guessed it right. This is indeed the piano left by Tolstoy." The staff introduced to Sokov with a smile: "Tolstoy loves music, and he spends his free time writing.
In addition, I hope to sit in front of the piano and play two songs."
Sokov remembered that he had seen in a movie that after Guderian occupied Tolstoy's manor, he ordered people to throw out the bed and the piano in Tolstoy's bedroom, leaving them in the open air.
It was exposed to the sun and rain, so that the pianos used for display in later generations were all imitations. Thinking of this, he tentatively asked: "Why wasn't the piano moved?"
"The car that came to pull the cultural relics couldn't fit it in, so I left the piano here." As the staff spoke, seeing Sokov frowning slightly, he quickly added: "Comrade Major, don't worry, the final
Next week, someone will come and take the piano away."
A bitter smile appeared on Sokov's face, and he said to himself that Guderian's troops would probably arrive at the Tolstoy Manor in the next two days. By the time you come next week, the place will have already been occupied by the Germans.
This piano will be thrown out in the open air by Guderian like garbage, just like its original history.
"I wonder which room Tolstoy wrote in?" the driver interrupted again and asked.
"There is a study room converted from a storage room on the ground floor. It is the quietest place in the house. Tolstoy likes to stay here and write." The staff said: "On the wall is the sickle he used when working with farmers.
, ropes, and the fat and loose peasant-style blouse he often wore, all of which would make one think that this was the home of a Russian landowner who had never seen the world."
The staff member's words caused a burst of laughter.
The purpose of Sokov's visit was to see if Tolstoy's grave could be moved, but now it seems that this hope will come to nothing. But before leaving here, he wanted to see Tolstoy's grave with his own eyes.
He asked the staff: "Can you take us to see Tolstoy's grave?"
"Of course, of course." The staff member said politely: "Please come with me!"
Under the leadership of the staff, everyone quickly arrived at Tolstoy's cemetery. The tomb was built under a big tree next to a path leading deep into the forest. There were no inscriptions or sculptures that are usually found in Russian cemeteries.
There is a coffin-shaped mound raised from the ground, and a wooden cross. The grass densely covering the tomb has turned yellow.
Later generations of Sokov came to Tolstoy's manor and did not see the cross in front of the tomb at all. It must be that after the war, the Soviet Union collected Tolstoy's remains and reburied them without erecting a cross.
Having seen almost everything that should be seen, Sokov turned around and asked the staff: "I would like to ask, if Tolstoy's tomb is to be moved, who can make the decision?"
When the staff member heard what Sokov said, his eyes widened in surprise: "What, Comrade Major, what did you say? You want to move Tolstoy's grave. Why is that?"
"The Germans are only dozens of kilometers away from here, and they may break into it later." Sokov explained to the staff: "Once the Tolstoy Manor is occupied by the Germans, I am worried that they may destroy Tolstoy's estate."
graves, so consideration should be given to moving the cemetery.”
Sokov's words drove the staff crazy: "Comrade Major, Tolstoy is a world-famous literary giant. Even if the Germans occupied this place, they would not be able to destroy his tomb, right? Therefore, the matter of moving the tomb is basically
Impossible."
From the staff's words, Sokov finally understood why Potapov had a look of surprise on his face after hearing his words last night. No one believed that the Germans would risk the world's disapproval after occupying the manor.
Tolstoy's bones were dug out and almost shattered into ashes.
Sokov did not waste his time explaining to the staff, because he knew very well that even if he convinced the staff, he could not make the final decision on such a major matter as moving Tolstoy's grave. The only thing he could do
Yes, just report it layer by layer and wait for the above
When people made the decision, the day lily was cold. You can't send troops to attack Tolstoy's manor and snatch Tolstoy's remains, right? Since Guderian set up his headquarters here, the defense must be very good.
Being strict and sending troops to attack is equivalent to hitting an egg with a stone.
After walking around the Tolstoy manor, Sokov found that a large number of valuable things had been moved, but no one seemed to have thought about moving Tolstoy's grave. In this case, he
There is no need to create extraneous matters, just return to the army headquarters honestly and continue to be Potapov's adjutant.
When everyone got in the car and left, the staff also said to Sokov: "Comrade Major, I am leaving here tomorrow. If you come again soon, I am afraid you will not be able to enter the manor again."
Sokov stretched out his hand to the staff member, shook his hand, and said in a friendly tone: "Don't worry, I'm afraid we won't be here anymore before the war is over. I hope I can still be here after the war is over."
See you."
"I think this is entirely possible." The staff member said with a smile: "When you come here again after the war, I will personally be your guide and explain the history of Tolstoy Manor."